X-ray crystallographic study of two dinuclear triply-bridged <i>p</i>-cymene osmium complexes

The single crystal X-ray structure analyses of [Os2(<i>p</i>-cymene)2(μ-H)3]PF6 ([<b>1</b>]PF6) and [Os₂ (<i>p</i>-cymene)₂ (μ-Cl)₃]PF₆ ([2]PF₆) are presented. The two triple bridged arene osmium complexes show the metal to be in an octahedral geometry, where the p-cymene ligand is facially coordinated and where the bridging ligands (Cl or H) occupy the remaining three coordination sites. In the dinuclear trihydrido complex a strong metal–metal interaction is observed. This is not the case for the trichloro complex where a large metal–metal distance indicates no metal–metal bonding.